The Opelousas courier., 1887-02-26
LOCHINVAR ON SKATES.

It was the t'bail of the season." a
least for that neighborhood, which wa
n of the most fashionable on til
upper Hudson. The owner of the man
sion, Mr.. Hugh MCGOWAN, was abou
to sail for Europe with his family, to b
gone an indefinite period, and this wa
his farewell entertainment. Everybod,
within a circle of twenty miles wa
present, and the dancing was going OF
with a vigor that shook even the solit
mansion.
81 heard only yesterday that the OLE
fox was going to carry you off to Eu
rope" said Charley Beauchamp, whcr
he had found a corner concealed bchint
some tall, thick plants where he and Iii
companion could talk unobserved
"Now, l shall die, Kate, if an occal
comes to separate us. You must decide,
therefore, tonight for good and all
Why will you not trust me2 You
guardian will never give his consent II
your marrying me. He will persecutc
you and persecute me in hopes to gel
you to take his boor of a son. E,opc
with M"
"E ope with you 81 cried his partner,
with a start. ooh Charley, you can
not mean it. Think what people would
say"
"Thcn you don't love me-" broke in
Charley, bitterly. Imagine the risk |
run in coming here. | had to get an
invitation under a false name and dis
guise myself as you sec, two things in
finitely repugnant to me and only to be
endured for your sake, dear. And now
you talk of what people will say ! Have
we not sworn eternal fidelity TO e; oh
ether Was not our engagement made
with the sanction of your father Would
we not have been married before this if
he had not died2 These people intend
to cheat me out OF you"
"But, but, stammered the girl, ''thc
provisions of the will. Everything is
left in Mr. McGowan's hands. i cannot
marry without his consent. If ! do
am disinhcrited. He was the partner Of
papa, you know, who trustel him in
everything"
"And was betrayed. But listen TO
me, Kate. The will is, indeed, as you
say. But your guardians power ceases
when you become %. If you will share a
comparatively poor mans lot for five
years you will, at the end of that time,
recover all these luxuries. Nothing can
prevent the properly coming to
you at the end of that period. / have
hesitated to ask you before to make this
sacrifice. But TO sec you go off to
Europe for an indefinite season, and to
know 4ou will be entirely in the power
of this mar and his son-Kate, it drives
me mail
"What would you have me do, dear?
You know | love you. Tell me wi al
you propose. How is escape possible,
watched as | ann Even now my absence
may have been remarked. Ohi what
will happen If you are discovered and
insulted, as / know you will BEL"
Then trust yourself, dearest, 10 me.
You are a famous skater. We'll, I've
brought up from New York two pairs of
skates; u pair for myself, another that
will just fit your dear little feet. Whea
the ball is over, and everybody in the
house gone TO bad, slip on your warmcst.
travelling dress and meet me outside. I
will wait for you behind the hedge of
rhododendrons, just across the carriag
drive, in front Of tho hall door. IA
quarter Of q mile will carry Us to the
cud Of the avenue and to the high roa
another quarter Of a mile to the Hudson.
There is no snow on the ground, so NC
cannot be tracked. The river is frozen
hard. Once on it darling. and three
hours, perhaps less, will carry US to
Leyden, where the western express
makes a connection. Wen jump in un-
noticed in the crowd, and before this
time tomorrow will be at Harbor Lake,
in another state, where We can be
married without fear Of the McGowans
interposing.''
There war little time for hesitation.
The waltz, for which Charley led Kate
out, but Which. As We have seen, they
bad not danced, was nearly over; the
last straills Of the Beautiful B.ue
Daaube'' were dying away into silence
The steps Of q pair who had already
stopped were heard approaching the con
scrvatory.
Kate rose to her feet, all alive with
energy,